Diagnosis of Adolescent Pregnancy—1965 vs 1980

Abstract

This study compares changes in the accuracy of the diagnosis of pregnancy in adolescents between 1965 and 1980. We compared 44 records of adolescents evaluated in 1965 to those of 44 who were evaluated 15 years later in 1980. The following data were examined: (1) reason for consultation, (2) amount of time prior to making the correct diagnosis, and (3) the most common diagnostic errors. The results showed that (1) the initial diagnosis was correct only 75 per cent of the time in 1965 and 86 per cent in 1980, (2) both in 1965 and 1980 most patients initially consulted for "vague complaints," (3) in 1965 and 1980 the most common diagnostic errors were "gastrointestinal disorder" and "functional symptoms," and (4) pregnancy was diagnosed earlier in 1980 than in 1965.

Improvement in diagnostic accuracy should be possible if clinicians screen for pregnancy in adolescent girls consulting for vague symptoms such as nausea, weight gain, urticaria, and som nolence.